Celebrating National Small Business Week

Since we launched Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Warren Buffett has served as a Co-Chair of our Advisory Council, guiding our work over the years. I just got back from the 2019 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder Meeting – what an experience. How timely as we celebrate National Small Business Week, an opportunity to raise up entrepreneurs across America.

We’re thrilled to highlight some of the more than 8,200 graduates of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses around the country. At Goldman Sachs, we’re focused on creating economic opportunity. 10,000 Small Businesses does exactly that by equipping entrepreneurs with business education and access to capital, helping them create jobs and economic growth. To deliver the program, we partner with community colleges and have reached business owners from all 50 states.

Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with some of our 10,000 Small Businesses alumni across the country. In Baltimore, I met business owners like Sonjie DeCaires, who owns a full service events and marketing company and Holly Shook, who not only runs a thriving coffee and catering business, but also invests in Baltimore’s youth with workforce readiness training and job opportunities. In Salt Lake, I met Stephanie Nix-Thomas, who highlighted her commitment to investing in her employees as a long-term business strategy.

I am continually struck by the level of commitment and passion small business owners have for their businesses, employees and wider community. I invite you to check out a few of our other business owners including Leticia Pollock, Jason Horne, Shawn Laughlin, and Andrew Chmielewski.

Let’s celebrate these entrepreneurs for everything they’re doing to #MakeSmallBig #NSBW #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness